Brickmaking-machine.



No. 874,482. Y PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907.

' J.E.BOND.

BRIGKMAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906. RENEWED MAY 16.1907.

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witnesses; Inventor THE NORRIS PETERS co, WkSHINGTON. n. c

PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907. J.E.BOND.

I BRIGKMAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906. RENEWED MAY 16 5SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witnesses fi /4%! 1n: uonms PEYERS can, wAsnmcmu, n, c.

P A-TENTED- DEC. 24 1907. J. E. BOND. BRIOKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906. RENEWED MAY 16, 1907.

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' PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907.

J. E. BOND, BRIGKMAKINGMAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906. RENEWEDMAY 16, 1907.

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Err L witnesses: %7/ %m rm: NORRIS PETERS cm, wnsumarmv, u. c

7 PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907f J. E. BOND. BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906, RENEWED Mule, 1907.

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JOSEPH E. BOND, OF MAYIVOOD, ILLINOIS.

BRIGKMAKING-MACHINE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24., 1907.

Application filed July 271 1906. Serial No. 328.123- Renewed May 16.1907. Serial No. 373,975-

To all whom it'may concern:

Beit known that I, Josnrn E. BOND, of Maywood, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented a certain new, useful, and ImprovedBrick-Making Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the art of manufacturing fire bricks and hasspecial refer ence to improvements in machines for molding fire bricks.Heretofore it has been considered impractical to mold fire bricks bymachinery. When attempts have been made to do so it has been found thatthe machine molded bricks could not withstand the intense heatoffurnaces. Consequently it has been a custom with all fire brickmanufacturers, to use the hand process in making all high grade standardbricks, and articles of special shape. The hand process consists intaking a lump of clay of the proper consistency in the hand/and aftermaking a ball or wauk. of it, throwing it into the mold with sufficientforce to cause the ball to fill out the mold and to firmly unite withthe clay that has already been thrown therein. The mold is then struckoff and slicked, and the wet or green brick is then turned out upon thepallet to dry, before being fired. This process involves heavy work andit requires a high degree of skill to properly throw the clay whenmolding the more intricate shapes.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanical substitute for thepresent manual process of manufacturing fire bricks.

The special object of my invention is to provide a machine for formingand throwing balls or wauks of clay into molds with the same or greaterforce than is now expended in the hand process.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in a machine wherebysuccessive quantities of clay of equal size and density may be forciblyand automatically discharged by fluid pressure into the molds withuniform force.

More specifically my invention consists in a machine of the classmentioned, comprising a clay reservoir, a passageway or barrelcommunicating with said reservoir, means for feeding clay through saidreservoir and into said barrel, a reciprocating plunger having a duct orducts and located in said barrel,

means for reciprocating said plunger and means for automaticallyconnecting the duct or ducts in said plunger with a source of fluidunder pressure, at a certain point in the descent of the plunger toforcibly expel the clay from the barrel and into a mold.

My invention further consists in a machine of the class mentioned,having means for automatically controlling the plunger to prevent itsoperation except when the clay is in condition to quickly fill thebarrel when opened to the reservoir.

My invention further consists in a movable table or conveyer, wherebymolds of large dimensions may be shifted in the process of filling, toproperly receive the clay; and which may be utilized for quickly andeasily conveying successive molds, to and from the clay throwingmachine.

My invention consists further in certain novel constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts, all as hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and inwhich;

Figure I is a vertical section of a brick molding machine embodying myinvention. Fig. II is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the lineIIII of Fig. I, Fig. III is an enlarged section taken on the irregularline IIIIII of Fig. I, Fig. IV is a sectional view of the main valve, onan enlarged scale, parts being broken away to better illustrate thedevice. Fig. V is a horizontal section taken on the line VV of Fig. IV.Fig. VI is a vertical section taken on line VIVI of Fig. V. Fig. VII isa plan view of the mold conveying mechanism. Fig. VIII is a sectionalview taken on line VIIIVIII of Fig. VII. Fig. IX is a similar view takenon line IXIX of Fig. VII. Fig; X is a vertical sectional view similar toFig. I, illustrating a modification thereof in which the plunger is Iactuated by a crank and connecting rod, and

ferred form, comprising a hopper, a shaft, 2

a pulley, 2, and blades, 3, carried by the shaft. The pug-millcommunicates with the receiving chamber, 4, hereinafter termed thereservoir, and the shaft, 2, is extended into said reservoir, and inthis case is shown as provided with a rotary screw, 5, by which thematerial is fed through the reservoir. The pug-mill and reservoir aresupported in any suitable manner; as for example by beams, 6, shown inFigs. II & III. I do'not wish to limit myself to the screw feedingdevice, 5, as a steam actuated piston or other means might be employedfor the same purpose.

The discharge end of the reservoir, 4', is reduced in diameter andcommunicates with a transverse passageway or clay barrel, 7', open atits lower end. The preferred sectional form of the said passagerectangular and elongated, as indicated in Fig. I1. air-tightly butslidably within the passageway, 7, is a plunger, 10, shown at the lowerend of its stroke in Fig. I. This plunger is secured to a cros'shead,11, mounted between guides, 12, (Fig. III) which are supported by ahollow casting, 13, forming a housing for the cr'osshead and having anopening, 14, in its top through which passes the drive-rod, 15. This rodmay be reciprocated by any preferred mechanism or motive power. As shownin Fig. I it is constituted by or is connected to a piston rod, 16', ofa steam engine, 17, having a valve chest, 18, valve rod, 19, rock arm20, and other parts necessary to reciprocate the rod, 15. A belt drivenmechanism for operating the rod, 16, is illustrated in Fig. X and willbe hereinafter described.

When the plunger, 10, is at its uppermost position its lower end willregister with the point, 21, thus permitting a portion of theplungerspace, or clay barrel, to be filled with clay by the action ofthe feeding device. In descending, the plunger, 10, forces this clayinto the lower part, 8, of the barrel.

The plunger is formed with an interior opening or duct, 22 passingvertically there through and also through the lower portion, 11, of thecrosshead, 11. Said opening or duct may be divided into two or moredivisions by partitions, 23, as shown in Fig. III; but such partitionsare not an essential feature of the plunger construction;

It will be observed that the lower end of the plunger is partiallyclosed by a metal plate, 54, secured thereto, and that the plate isprovided with a plurality of orifices, 55.

Two preferable arrangements of these orifices are shown in Figs. XI &XII. The majority are located at or adjacent to the ends of the plate,54, and one or more are arranged along the central or neutral axis ofthe plate, and spaced farther apart than those adjacent the ends. Thisarrangement, I have ascertained by experiment, is desirable forpreventing Fitted partial expulsion of a slug or wauk of clay: owing tothe fact that, where an open plunger is used, the tendency is for thecentral than upon the middle of the slug. T his exer' tionof greaterpressure upon the ends of the slug than upon the center thereof has thetendency to'form' the slug into one mass or ball, and in this way moreclosely approximates hand work. .The orifices are preferably madebell-mouthed or flaring toward the lower face of the plate, as shown;the inclinedsurfaces thus presented to the slug of clay offer greaterresistance to the material so that the material will not penetrateentirely through the orifices when the plunger is forced down. I

The admission of the fluid under pressure to theupper end of the-duct,22, may be controlled by valve mechanism of any suitable construction. Apreferred form of valve mechanism for this pur ose is shown in Fig. Iand in detail in Figs. II, IV & V. 24 indicates a slide valve mountedwithin a valve chamber, 25, upon a seat, 11, formed by the bottom of thecrosshead, 11. It is provided with upward projections, 24, engaged bycollars, 26, on the stem, 27, of a double piston, 28, fitted within thecylindrical ends of the valve chamber, 25. The fluid under pressure isadmitted into said valve chamber through a hose or other suitableconnection, 30, a flexible connection being employed owing to the factthat the valve chest, 25, reciprocates with the crosshead, 1 1. Thevalve, 24, is provided with a port, 31, which registers intermittentlywith the fluid passage, 22, of the plunger. Vhen said valve is at oneend of its stroke it assumes the position shown in Fig. I. When thevalve is at the opposite end of its stroke the port, 31, registers withthe duct, 22, and the fluid under pressure passes from the valve chamberinto the 1101- low plunger, 10, to eject the wauk from the passageway,7. However this action is but momentary as the valve is immediatelyreversed, thereby cutting off the fluid from the plunger. The valve maybe actuated by a purely mechanical device, or by a partly mechanical andpartly fluid-operated device. The latter construction is preferred by mefor the reason that it permits of a quicker movement of the valve, thuseffecting a saving of the steam or compressed air used for expelling theslugs of clay into the molds. The'piston ends, 28, above referred to,are employed in order to utilize fluid pressure for actuating the valve,24. As most clearly shown in Fig. V, the ends of the valve chamber, 25,are respectively connected by ports, 32, to a primary valve chamber, 33,in which is mounted a small slide valve, 34, having a rod, 35, whichextends through a gland or stufling box. The rod, 35 is adjustablysecured to a slide, 36, which is supported by brackets, 37 & 38, thelatter having an integral portion, 38, by which it is secured to one endof the valve chamber, 25.

The primary valve, 34, is shown in its normal position in Fig. V. Fluidenters the valve chamber, 33, through an inlet opening (not shown) andpasses through one of the ports, 32, into the right hand end of valvechamber, 25; thereby holding the piston, 28, and the main valve, 24, ina normal position. Between the ports, 32 and valve, 34, is an exhaustport, 40, which communicates with the atmosphere. If the valve stem, 35,be moved to the right it will uncover the left hand inlet port, 32,admitting the fluid into the left hand end valve chamber, 25, and-thepiston, 28, and valve, 24, will thereby be moved to the right, causingthe port, 31, to register as aforesaid, and the other inlet port, 32,will be connected, through valve, 34, to the exhaust port, 40. Thereverse movement of valve rod, 35, restores valve, 34, and piston, 28,and valve, 24, to normal positions by similar action at the opposite endof the valve chamber, 25.

The valve stem slide, 36, is reciprocated preferably by means ofmechanism shown in Figs. IV, V, & VI. The said slide, 36, carries alateral stud, 41, which projects through a slot in a depending, swingingarm, 42, pivoted on a pin, 43, held by a standard, 44, which is shown asintegral with bracket, 38. Arm, 42, carries at one side thereof a roller45, which projects into a cam groove, 46, formed in an upright plate,48, su ported by a bracket, 13, which is secured to tie housing, 13. Thecentral portion of said cam groove is curved or offset as indicated at47, topermit lateral movement of the roller, 45, as the arm, 42,descends; said arm being carried down by the downward movement of thecrosshead, 11, and connected parts. As the roller, 45, reaches a certainoint in its downward movement it is move laterally into the offsetportion of the groove, 46, by the action of a cam, 49, having aninclined face, 49, and pivotally mounted upon a pin, 50. The downwardmovement of this cam is limited by a stop shoulder, 51, but the cam isfree to be moved upwardly to the position indicated in dotted linesfurther upward movement being prevented by an upper stop shoulder, 52.As soon as the roller, 45, has passed the pivotal cam, 49, it engagesthe ortion, 47, of the cam groove, which returns it and the connectedparts to normal position. The lower straight portion of the grooveprevents further lateral movement thereof. When the crosshead, 11, andconnected parts ascend, the roller, 45, lifts the cam, 49, out of itspath and is thereby permitted to complete its upward stroke in astraight line; consequently the primary valve, 34, is not actuatedduring the up stroke of the parts named. The devices which actuate theprimary valve, 34, are so adjusted that they do not act until theplunger, 10, has descended almost to its lowermost position, as it isnot necessary to admit the steam or air into the plunger previous tothis time.

I wish it understood that I do not limit my invention to the forms ofvalves nor the particular construction herein shown, as it is obviousthat the desired results may be effected by the use of any suitablevalve mechanism whereby fluid pressure may be exerted upon the slug atthe proper time to discharge the same from the spout.

At certain times, it may occur that the clay reservoir, 4, will be onlypartially filled with clay, in which case, the transverse passage orplunger space above the spout, 8, might not be completely filled withclay of proper density after every u -stroke of the plunger, 10.Therefore it is esirable to provide means by which the action of theplunger will be suspended until a sufficient quantity of clay shall haveaccumulated to properly fill the plunger space or barrel. A suitablemeans for this purpose would consist in a device controlled by thepressure of clay within the reservoir and mechanically or otherwiseconnected to the plunger-actuating mechanism in such a manner as tosuspend the operation of said mechanism when the above-describedcondition occurs. .Thus, a regulating device controlled as stated may beconnected to the throttle-valve of the steam engine cylinder, where theplunger is so driven. In the drawings, I have illustrated a device forthe above named purpose, in connection with a modified form ofplunger-driving mechanism.

I have already stated that the plunger, 10, may be actuated by abelt-driven mechanism, and in Fig. X have illustrated such a device. Ashaft, 84, carried by journal brackets, 85, is provided with a crank,86, connected by a rod, 87, to the upper end of the crosshead, 11.Abelt-driven pulley, 88, may be keyed upon the shaft, 84, but when myautomatic regulating device is employed said pulley will be looselymounted thereon. To

that end I connect the pulley, 88, by a suitvoir with a cylindricalrecess, constituting a piston chamber, and preferably locate it above,or at one side of, the feed screw, 5. Mounted in this chamber orcylinder is a piston or valve, 92, which may be either weighted down orpressed upon by a spring, 93, as shown. A rod, 94, connected to thispiston or valve, passes out through acentral opening in a head, 95, ofthe chamber, and is directly or indirectly connected to a bell cranklever, 90. Normally the piston or valve, 92, in the chamber, 91, is heldup or outwardly against the pressure of spring, 93, by the normalpressure of the clay in rhe reservoir, 4. This normal clay pressure byacting through rod, 94, and lever, 90, maintains the clutch, 89, inoperative position, so that the plunger, 10, is normally in action.Whenever the clay pressure or density within the reservoir, 4, ismaterially decreased (which may at times occur owing to the condition ofthe material) the opposed pressure of the spring, 93, will force thepiston or valve, 92, inardly, and this movement, acting through the rod,94, will throw the free arm of the bell cranklever inwardly into thepath of a notch, 89, on the disk. This will arrest the disk, 89, againstrotation, the friction connection between the disk and the pulleypermitting the latter to continue to rotate. The lever, 90, and notch,89, are so located that when the machine is stopped the plunger will bein its uppermost position. In this way the clay is permitted toaccumulate within the reservoir, 4, until its pressure becomes againsufficient to throw out the valve or piston, 92, which will then permitthe plunger, 10, to resume its operation. In this connection, it may bestated that a positive clutch may be substituted for the friction devicedescribed if considered preferable thereto, and I do not wish to limitmyself to any particular type of clutch for the purpose named.

In Fig. I, 53 indicates a mold for a brick, tile or any similar article,arranged in position to receive material from the spout, 8. The molds tobe used with this machine may be placed upon the floor, or upon elevatedsupports, either movable or immovable, of any preferred kind. Forobvious reasons it is desirable to employ horizontally movable supports,so that each mold may be shifted with respect to the spout, 8, whilebeing filled. The mold-supporting and conveying device illustrated inFigs. I, VII, VIII & IX is well adapted to meet the requirements of thismachine. prising longitudinal bars, 56, rigidly connected by cross-bars,56, provided with supporting rollers, 57, is mounted for transversemovement upon trackways, 58. At the ends of the carriage are two broadfaced pulleys, 59, having end shafts, 60, suitably j ournaled on themembers, 56, and carrying an endless belt, 62. Upon the upper run ofthis As shown, the carriage, combelt the molds are supported. Betweenthe pulleys, 59, the upper run of the belt may be supported in anysuitable manner, preferably by transverse rollers, 63, which may bespaced as close together as thought desirable. For actuating the beltwhen so desired, I provide one of the shafts, 60, with a sprocket-wheel,64, and drive the same by a chain, 65, connecting sprocket, 64, to adrive-sprocket, 66, fixed on a transverse shaft, 67, held by bearings,68, and provided with a crank or hand wheel, 69. For transverse movementof the carriage, the carriage may be pushed or pulled along the trackways, 58, by the operator, or the same result may be effected byoperation of a hand wheel through intermediate mechanism. As shown, asecond transverse shaft, 70, with bearings, 7 1 is provided at one endwith a hand wheel, 72, and at the other end with a bevel gear wheel, 73,meshing with a bevel gear wheel, 74, fixed upon a shaft, 75, disposedparallel to the carriage, 56. Adjacent to its bearings, 76, shaft, 7 5,is provided with sprocket-wheels, 77, at a suitable distance from theshaft 7 5, is a parallel shaft, 78, carrying drive-sprockets, 79, whichare connected to sprockets, 77, by chains, 80. One or both of thecarriage bars, 56, are connected to the sprocket chains, 80; wherebymovements of the chains, 80, will be communicated to the carriage. Theshaft bearings, 76, are shown as supported by transverse bars, 81, whichare mounted on longitudinal sills or bars, 82.

It will be noticed that the hand wheels, 69 & 72, are arranged closetogether so that they may be easily operated simultaneously by oneperson. In this way the mold resting on the belt, 62, may be moved inany direction at the will of the operator. A series of molds may beplaced upon the belt, 62, in rows and be brought successively under thespout, 8, by manipulation of the hand wheels, the filled molds beingremoved from the belt 110 in any preferred manner.

The operation of the machine as shown in Fig. I is substantially asfollows: The mold to be filled is placed upon the belt, 62, below thespout, 8, and the plunger, 10, is put into 115 action by admitting steamto the cylinder, 17. Power is applied to shaft, 2, by a belt (not shown)on the pulley, 2, and the clay or other material is tempered in thepugmill, 3, or fed into the pug-mill in its tempered state 120 as may bedesired, in the usual manner, and is fed through the reservoir, 4, bythe action of the screw, 5, and pressed against the inner face of theplunger, 10. Then the plunger ascends the plunger space is filled withclay. 125 The plunger descends, thereby detaching a slug of the clayfrom the mass, and the steam or compressed air is quickly admitted intothe interior of the plunger and as quickly shut ofi. The steam or airpressure is suffi- 130 cient to forcibly discharge the slug of claythrough the spout, 8, into the mold. This operation is repeated untilthe mold is filled; t e mold being shifted ifnecessary by the operatorwhile being filled. Or the plunger may be stopped in its highestposition, until suflicient clay has accumulated in the spout to fill themold at one discharge, if the mold be small enough. After being removedfrom the conveying belt, the mold is treated in the manner usual in thehand process.

The operation of. one form of automatic clay pressure regulator has beenfully described above.

My reason for preferring steam to compressed air as the medium forcausing the discharge of clay into the molds is that steam condensingupon the clay moistens the edges of the wauk and causes successive wauksor quantities to more perfectly unite in the mold.

In the claims, by the word clay I wish to be understood as meaningmaterial of any klind which is capable of being worked like c. ay.

As various modifications of my invention will suggest themselves to oneskilled in the art I do not limit myself to the specific constructionand arrangement of parts given herein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a brick molding machine,a clay reservoir provided with a dischargespout or barrel; means for detaching a slug of clay from the mass withinthe reservoir, and means for discharging the slug from the spout byfluid pressure in said spout, substantially as described.

2. In a brick molding machine, a clay res ervoir rovided with adischarge spout, means or pressing the mass of clay Within the reservoirtoward said spout, means for detaching a slug of clay from the mass, andmeans for discharging the slug from the spout by fluid pressure in thesaid spout, substantially as described.

3. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a dischargespout; a plunger for detaching a slug of play from the mass, and meansfor discharging a slug from the spout by fluid pressure in the saidspout, substantially as described.

4. Ina brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a discharge spout;means for pressing the mass of clay toward said spout, a plunger fordetaching a slug of clay from the mass, and means for discharging theslug from the spout by fluid pressure in the said spout, substantiallyas described.

' 5. In a brick molding machine, a clay res- .ervoir provided with aplunger space and a discharge spout, a hollow plunger working in saidspout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into thespout at each stroke of saidplunger, whereby a slug of clay will besuddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, and means forfeeding the clay into the plunger space, substantially as described.

6. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement withsaid spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure intothe plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug of clay will besuddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, means forreciprocating said plunger, and means for feeding the clay into theplunger space, substantially as described.

'7 In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement withsaid spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure intothe plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug of clay will besuddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, means forreciprocating said plunger, and means for feeding the clay into theplunger space, substantially as described.

8. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and'a discharge spout; a pug-mill feeding. into said reservoir,meansfor pressing the clay into the plunger space, a hollow plungerworking in alinement with said spout, and means for momentarilyadmitting a fluid under pres sure into the plunger at each strokethereof, whereby a slug of clay will be suddenly and forcibly dischargedthrough the spout, sub stantially as described.

9. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having'a plunger spaceand a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in .said plunger space,a valve for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into theplunger, means for actuating the valve at each reciprocation of theplunger, and means for pressing the clay in the reservoir into saidplunger space, substantially as described.

7 10. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plungerspace and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in the plungerspace, a valve for admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger,means for momentarily opening the valve at each reciprocation of theplunger, and means for pressing the clayinto said plunger space,substantially as described.

, 11. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plungerspace and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement withsaid spout, a fluid-pressure-operated valve for momentarily admitting afluid under pressure into the plunger, a primary valve controlling themovements of the first named valve, means to actuate the primary valveat each reciprocation of the plunger, and means to force clay into saidplunger space, substantially as described.

12. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger reciprocatlng through theplunger space, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressureinto the plunger at the end of the operative stroke of the plunger, andmeans for pressing clay into the plunger spacewhen the plunger ascends,substantially as described.

13 In a brick moldingimachine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and a dlscharge spout; a hollow plunger having a perforated orpartially open lower end working in said plunger space, means formomentar1ly admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at eachreciprocation thereof, and means for pressing clay into the plungerspace, substantially as described.

14 In a brick molding machine, a clay res ervoir provided with a plungerspace and a discharge spout; ahollow plunger having. a perforated orpartially open lower end workmg m said plunger space, a valveformomentar1ly admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at eachreciprocation thereof, and means for pressing clay into the plungerspace, substantially as described.

15, Ina brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and a dlscharge spout; a hollow plunger having a perforated orpartially open lower end worklng in said plunger space, afluid-pressure-operated valve for momentarily admitting a fluid underpressure into the plunger at each reciprocation thereof, and means forpressing clay 1nto the plunger space, substantially as described.

16 In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger spaceand a discharge spout; a hollow plunger having a perforated lower. endworking in said plunger space, a yalve for admitting a fluid underpressure lnto the plunger, a primary valve controlling the operation ofthe aforesaid valve, means for momentarily opening the primary valve ateach reciprocation of the plunger, and means to press clay into theplunger space, substantially as described.

17. In'a brick molding'machine, a clay reservoir means for feeding clayby pressure into said reservoir, a plunger adapted to detach a slug ofclay from the mass within the reservoir, means to reciprocate theplunger, and automatic means for suspending the opera tion of theplunger when the quantity of clay within the reservoir becomesinsufficient, substantially as described.

18'. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir havingaplunger spaceand a discharge spout, a plunger adapted to detach a slug of clay fromthe mass within the reservoir, means to actuate the plunger, and meansto suspend the operation of said actuating means when the quantity ofclay within the reservoir becomes insuflicient, substantially asdescribed.

19. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having an extensionadapted to receive a portion of clay from the reservoir, a movablespring-pressed member within said extension, said member being movableby variation of density of the clay, a plunger adapted to detach a slugof clay from the mass, plunger-actuating mechanism, and means actuatedby connections with said movable member for suspending the action of theplunger when the density of the clay within the reservoir becomesinsufficient, substantially as described.

20. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir an extension chamberopening thereinto, a movable spring-pressed member within said chamber,said member being movable by the variation of the density of the clay, aplunger adapted to separate a slug of clay from the mass,plungeractuating mechanism, and means operated by connections with saidmovable member for suspending the action of the plunger when the densityor quantity of the clay within the reservoir becomes insufficient,substantially as described.

21. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement withsaid spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure intothe plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug of clay will besuddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, and a rotating wormfor feeding the clay into the plunger-space, substantially as described.

22. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement withsaid spout, means for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure intothe plunger at each stroke thereof, whereby a slug'of clay will besuddenly and forcibly discharged through said spout, means forreciprocating the plunger, and a rotating worm for feeding the clay intothe plunger space, substantially as described.

23. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger spaceand a discharge spout; a pug-mill feeding into said reservoir, arotating worm for pressing the clay into the plunger space, a hollowplunger working through the plunger space, and means for momentarilyadmitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each strokethereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

24. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger spaceand a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in. said plunger'space,a valve for momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the"plunger, means for actuating the valve at each reciprocation of theplunger, and a rotating worm for pressing the clay in the reservoir intosaid plunger space, substantially as described.

25. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger spaceand a dis charge spout a hollow lunger working in the plunger space, ava ve for admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger, means formomentarily opening the valve at each reciprocation of the plunger, anda rotating worm for pressing the clay into said plunger space,substantially as. described.

26. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger spaceand a discharge spout; a hollow plunger working in alinement with saidspout, a fluid pressureoperated valve for momentarily admitting a fluidunder pressure into the plunger, a primary valve controlling themovements ofthe first named valve, means to actuate the primary valve ateach reciprocation of the plunger, and a rotating worm to force thematerial into said plunger space, substantially as described.

27. In a brick reservoir provided with a plunger space and a dischargespout; a hollow plunger reciprocating through the plunger space, meansfor momentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at theend of the operative stroke of the plunger, and a rotating worm forpressing clay into the plunger space when the plunger ascends,substantially as described.

28. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger spaceand a discharge spout; a hollow plunger, having a per. forated orpartially open lower end, working in said plunger space, means formomentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at eachreciprocation thereof, and a rotating worm for pressing clay into theplunger space, substantially as described.

29. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir provided with a plungerspace and a discharge spout a hollow plunger, having a perforated orpartially open lower end, working in said plunger space, a valve for mo-.mentarily admitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at eachreciprocation thereof, and a rotating worm for pressing clay into theplunger space, substantially as described.

30. In a brick molding machine, a clay res ervoir provided with aplunger space and a discharge spout; a hollow plunger, having aperforated or partially open lower end, work ing in said plunger space,a fluid-pressuremolding machine, a clay operated valve for momentarilyadmitting a fluid under pressure into the plunger at each reciprocationthereof, and a rotating worm for pressingclay into the plunger space,substantially as described.

3 1. In a brick molding machine, a clay reservoir having a plunger spaceand a discharge s out; a hollow plunger, having a perforated ower end,working in said plunger space, a valve for admitting fluid underpressure into the-plunger, a primary valve controlling the operation ofthe aforesaid valve,

means for momentarily opening the primary valve at each reciprocation ofthe plunger, and a rotating worm for pressing clay into the plungerspace, substantially as described.

32. A mold conveyer comprising an elongated frame mounted upon rollersor wheels for transverse movement, two pulleys carried by said frame, abelt passing around said pulleys, manually operatedmeans for rotatingone of the pulleys to move the belt longitudinally, a fixed frame, andmanually operated mechanism supported by the fixed frame for causingtransverse movement of the movable frame and the belt, substantially asdescribed.

33. In a fire brick molding machine, a clay reservoir in combinationwith a barrel communicating therewith, a plunger operable in said barreland adapted to close the opening between said reservoir and said barrel,and

means for admitting fluid under pressure tosaid barrel when said plungerhas closed said opening, substantially as described.

34. In a fire brick molding machine having a clay admission opening atone end and 0 en at the other end for the discharge of c ay, a plungerarranged in said barrel and adapted to move the clay admitted thereto,and means for supplying fluid under ressure to said barrel when the claytherein libs been set in motion by said plunger, substantially asdescribed.

35. In a fire brick molding machine, a clay throwing barrel providedwith a clay admission opening at its upper end, in combination with aplunger provided in said barrel, means for admitting fluid underpressure to said barrel upon each downstroke of said plunger, and a moldshifting conveyer arranged beneath said barrel, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 11 day of July,1906, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH E. BOND.

Witnesses:

JOHN R. LEFEVRE, M. SrMoN.

